Felsted Prep v Orwell Park

1st XV: Won 49 – 5

To come away from Orwell Park with a result is challenging, as they are always competitive, committed and well organised.  To come away having won 49 – 5 has, therefore, got to be pleasing. For the majority of the game the score line reflected the differences between the two sides. We held onto the ball well, ran some great lines and created some stunning tries that had a lot to do with ‘heads up’, intelligent rugby and a lovely timing of the pass. We also put them under huge pressure and our rush defense certainly paid its part in the overall score line. Tries came from Jonathan Salami (4), Will Barker (1), Tom Hitchcock (1) and Sam Wisbey (1), who actually ran half the length of the pitch following a dropped ball from Orwell. Tom also added 7 conversations, not all of them easy. Once again our scrum was impressive and our distribution of the ball highly ambitious. However, for the first 10 minutes of the second half we drifted back to old habits and made basic errors that put us under pressure. Orwell’s try came about as a result of three missed tackles and, having tackled so well up to and after the try, this was disappointing. We must learn once again from our mistakes and ensure that we bring a consistency to our performance. When we play error free rugby, few sides will match us; but with Bishop’s Stortford College as our next opponents, only our very best will do.

2nd XV: Won 50-0

A very comfortable victory, against a weak Orwell team. Felsted's performance was improved from the previous week, with a few positional changes that worked well for the team. A lot of hard work is needed to improve our rucking, in the build up for the game against Bishop Stortford College.

5thXV: Lost 40-35

An exciting game played in interesting conditions. A game billed as a IX a side game on a full pitch, became a X a side game across the pitch between the "22"s as we arrived and the boys did well to adapt to these conditions, edging the first half by one try. As scrums became contested in the second half, the gradient of the pitch proved to be a friend to the Orwell Park IX and they were able to edge the second half resulting in a final score of 40-35 to Orwell Park.

The rugby on offer from Felsted was aggressive and decisive with many tries coming from incisive breakaways, or some fantastic mauling and driving of bodies down the field. The try scorers were Bunn (4), Barber, Reeve and Ginsburg J but, to a man, everyone played well and enjoyed another taste of competitive rugby.

U11 B: Won 14 - 7Tries - J Oluwabusola, A Summers
Cons - A Summers 2

A spirited performance against quite a strong physical Orwell Park side. The forwards had their work cut out both when scrummaging and in the loose. Both sets of forwards were determined to win the ball and it was a good contest. The backs showed some good running, linking well to move the ball wide, both ways. Both our tries came from some loose play from our opponents, the try scorers picking up a loose ball and running into score.

U11 C: Won 52 - 0

Due to Orwell Park's smaller numbers this game was played in a nine-a-side format. This gave us extra substitutes, for extra motivation to the players on the pitch to play well or risk being substituted. From the kick-off we were confident and focused. Our game focused on making sure we had quick ball at the breakdown and always had players willing to ruck over the ball. This was executed to perfection, allowing us to always move the ball forwards with good wide passing. The opposition couldn't contain our quick ball, which produced many gaps, with the opposition bunching at the breakdown. We assessed the opposition well and alternated with the forwards running with the ball to gain metres and drew in the opposition and then change to pass wide for where there was space. Our scrumming won us many scrums that were often not even our put in. Many tries were scored for a convincing win of 52 to 0. Well done Felsted!